Record $170M profit for Knutsford

August 2, 2017 by

One of Knutsford Express buses.

Profit after tax grew 40 percent at Knutsford Express for the year to May 2017 to $170.3 million but pretax profit was up a lower 28 percent to end at $164.4 million from revenues that rose 28.7 percent to $752.4 million.
Operating and administrative cost was up 29.6 percent to $580.6 million over the year ago period.
During the year, $107.6 million was expended on new fixed assets which pushed depreciation up sharply from $37 million in 2016, to $56 million in 2017. The financial statements reflect $49 million deposited to purchase vehicles, Managing Director, Oliver Townsend confirmed that they are adding “ a couple of buses to expand the fleet, some have already arrived with additional ones to come”.
Big expense items that grew sharply during the year are, Salaries up from $168 million to $194 million up 15.7 percent, toll charges rose from $11.4 million to $29 million, Fuel climbed from $64.7 million to $91 million and would be from a combination of higher prices and more bus trips. Parts cost $43 million fro0m $26 in 2016 while Insurance rose from $18.5 million to $27.2 million. Unfortunately, the company continues to present the financial information without breaking separation direct from indirect cost so that investors can determine more accurately the potential profitability.
Knutsford’s balance sheet presents a picture of strength with current assets of $231 million including cash funds of $156 million, up from $88 million in 2016. Shareholders’ equity stands at $483 million. Liabilities stand at $105 million including deferred tax of $12 million.
We will definitely open the transport centre at the Sangster International Airport later this month Townsend informed IC Insider.com. The centre is expected to capture a bigger slice of passengers disembarking from aircrafts as it become more convenient for them.
Subsequent to the year-end an interim dividend of 6.8 cents per share was declared as the final dividend for the year ended May 2017. The payment will be will be on September 15. The payment amounts to $34 million and is up 41.7 percent over the $24 million paid in 2016. The stock last traded on the Junior Market of the Jamaican Stock Exchange at $14.95. IC Insider.com is forecasting earning per share for 2018 at 53 cents, putting the PE for the stock at rich 30 times earnings, at this level the stock is likely to underperform the Junior Market movement for the next twelve months.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: , , , ,

Jamaica’s profit tax jumps 33%

August 1, 2017 by

Minister of Finance Audley Shaw rolling in increased taxes.

Corporate Jamaica paid in $11.15 billion in corporate taxes, to June 2017, a huge 32.9 percent more than the $8.39 billion budgeted, as companies continue to benefit from an improving local economy, with low inflation and increasing demand.
The 2017 intake, translates to a 32.6 percent more than the amount collected in 2016 as businesses post increased profit, from moderate growth in the economy. Government collected $8.4 billion from companies to June 2016, 24.6 percent more than the $6.75 billion projected. In contrast, tax collected from dividend payments surprisingly fell to $229.5 million versus $293.7 million budgeted and $369.2 million collected to June 2016. The reduction for the first quarter of the 2018 fiscal year is likely to be purely one of timing. Dividends paid by NCB Financial Group and Scotia Group would translate to payment of over $400 million in dividend tax. Dividend paid by 4 of the largest listed companies during April and May, show that just over $800 million in tax on dividends should have been paid over to June this year.
The data shows that the budget forecast for the current Fiscal year for corporate tax revenue is in line with the intake for 2016.

Filed Under: Company News, Economy, Feature Stories, General Business News

Paramount chops profits by $72M

July 31, 2017 by

Paramount’s new look

Paramount Trading chops its 2017 profits by $72 million according to a release by the company published over the week end to $101 million. According to the release sales revenues climbed 12.8 percent to $1.156 billion for an increase of $132 million.
Gross profit margin declined by 2.1 percent cutting $23 million from profit compared to 2016 and operating cost rose 16 percent or $31 million from $193.8 million in 2016. “This resulted mainly from investments to build capacity to facilitate business growth in line with strategic direction of the company” the report stated. “The company will maintain a leading position in chemical raw materials, while accelerating growth in lubricants due to our investments in fixed assets including a joint venture with Allegheny Petroleum to manufacture oils locally the report went on to say.”
In the fourth quarter revenues grew 17.65 percent to $320 million from $272 million in 2016 and profit ended at $20 million in the 2017 final quarter versus $42 million in 2016. The final 2017 quarter results deteriorated sharply from performance for the February 2017 quarter, with revenues of $297 million and profit $29.5 million. The one year delay in starting to operate the lubricant plant has been costly.  The profit result translates to only 6.5 cents per share. The stock last traded on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $2.99 per share with a PE ratio of 46.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: , , ,

Ciboney out of cash shortly

July 31, 2017 by

Ciboney’s latest audited report shows yet another year of loss, with the company burning $5.2 million of assets, albeit an improvement over a $7.5 million lost in 2016. On the surface the numbers don’t appear much until viewed against the fact that they have very little current assets.
The year’s results mean that the company burnt up $5.3 in cash, leaving it with just $3.6 million at the end of May and no indication when the draining will end, with management being silent on this critical area. The company has no income with the cash being used up and this was the only area for inflows in recent years for some time.
In 2011, the company had $40 million in cash funds, but poor management of resulted in a high cost for shareholders. Ciboney Group minority shareholders should be considering legal action against the directors for negligence in managing the affairs of the company.
The company had a legitimate offer in 2012 that would have transformed it, but they failed to take it further than the board room. Since then, the company has lost money each year paying out management fees and other expenses and has virtually wiped out the near $30 million cash it had when the offer was made. Had the company accepted the offer, it would have transformed it and made big gains for Ciboney’s shareholders, in all likelihood.
Now that the money has virtually run out there is no known plan to turn things around while they await the sale of a property it holds. There have been talks about a sale of the property but so far shareholders have no indication if this is so and if so how serious the offer is. The latest report on the sale is that there was an offer but the contractor Generals department want the offer for sale to be again opened to the public by way of public advertisement.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results

NCB Q3 profit jumps 33%

July 30, 2017 by

NCB Financial Group HQ.

NCB Financial Group delivered net profit of $14.7 billion for the nine months ended June 30, 2017, an increase of 48 percent over the prior year’s nine months profit of $9.9 billion. For the June quarter net profit climbed from $3.94 billion to $5.25 billion in 2016 for the group.
The overall performance resulted in earnings per share of $2.14 for the latest quarter and $5.98 for the nine months. Loans and advances, net of provision for credit losses, increased by $32 billion or 18 percent to $212.0 billion at June 30, 2017. The growth was primarily driven by a 23 percent increase in the Retail Banking portfolio. Non-performing loans totaled $5.6 billion at June 2017, representing 2.6 percent of the gross loans compared to 4.8 percent at the end of June 2016 amounting to $8.8 billion.
The board of directors in their report on the nine months results stated that, “Operating income increased by $6.2 billion or 16 percent over the prior year, to $44.2 billion. The improved revenues were primarily driven by: Net fee & commission income growing by 31 percent or $2.4 billion. The growth stemmed from our continued focus on sale effectiveness, improving the penetration into our Investment Banking services, and growing the Unit Trust portfolios, coupled with increases in pension management fees. Additionally, our focus on providing our customers with non-branch channel and digital options has led to volume growth in point of sale and e-commerce transactions. Gains on foreign currency and investment activities growing by $2.5 billion or 80 percent. Net interest income increasing by 5 percent or $1.2 billion, as a result of growth in the loan portfolio.”
“Operating expenses of $28 billion grew by 9 percent or $2.3 billion over the prior year, driven by:  Staff costs increasing by $1.9 billion or 18 percent mainly as a result of the negotiated increases in salaries, wages, allowances & benefits. Other operating expenses growing by $1.1 billion or 11 percent primarily as a result of increased asset tax charges, property and ABM maintenance expenses and professional fees resulting from the execution of strategic initiatives.”
The banking group segments delivered strong gains in revenues and profit except for General Insurance. Retail and SME segment enjoyed an increase of 13 percent in net revenues to $13.86 billion and segment profit rising 33 percent to $1.6 billion.

Advantage General suffered a fall in profit for the NCB Group.

Payment Services recorded an increase of 15 percent in net revenues to $5.2 billion with segment profit rising 31 percent to $1.75 billion, Corporate Banking net revenues grew 39 percent to hit $3.6 billion with segment profit climbing a very strong 64 percent to $2.47 billion. Treasury and Correspondent Banking net revenues increased 35 percent to $6.98 billion and segment profit rose 41 percent to $5.67 billion, Wealth, Asset Management and Investment Banking saw an increase of 25 percent in net revenues to $6.6 billion and segment profit rising 27 percent to $4.6 billion, Life Insurance and Pension Fund Management net revenues grew 14 percent to $5.6 billion, with segment profit rising 22 percent to $3.48 billion. Revenues at the General Insurance segment fell 7 percent to $4.4 billion with segment profit slipping 7 percent to $893 million and Other contributed an increase of 34 percent in revenues to $195 million and segment profit rising 55 percent to $126 million.
The Board of Directors, declared an interim dividend of $0.60 per ordinary stock unit payable on August 29, for stockholders on record as at August 15, 2017. The NCB stock closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $80 on Friday having traded earlier the day at $81 after the release of the results.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, Feature Stories, Street News & Views Tagged With: , , ,

5 up 1 down on TTSE – Thursday

July 27, 2017 by

Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday resulted in 11 securities changing hands, the same as on Wednesday with 5 stocks advancing, 1 declining and 5 remaining unchanged.
At the close, 322,943 shares were exchanged at a value of $11,771,171 compared to Wednesday’s trades of 283,405 units valued at $21,769,873.
The Composite Index advanced 1.34 points to 1,209.87, the All T&T Index rose 0.81 points to 1,791.87 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.26 points to 84.14.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| Clico Investment closed with a gain of 1 cent to $22.40 trading 84,000 shares valued at $1,881,279, First Caribbean International gained 5 cents to close at $7.67, with an exchange of 5,200 shares, while Grace Kennedy closed at $2.81, with a 1 cent gain exchanging 10,500 shares. Scotia Investments advanced 10 cents to $2.20, with 30,000 shares switching owners, Trinidad & Tobago NGL added 1 cent to close at $23.51, with 22,370 shares changing hands valued at $525,719.
Losses| West Indian Tobacco closed at 52 weeks’ low of $125.80, losing 30 cents in trading 65,647 shares valued at $8,242,806.
Firm Trades| First Citizens traded 3,200 shares at $31.65, JMMB Group held firm at $1.20 with 87,966 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings closed at $49 exchanging 400 units. Sagicor Financial traded 660 units at $8 and Scotiabank closed at $58.02 trading 13,000 shares valued at $754,260.

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Trading picks up as 3 stocks rise 3 fall

July 26, 2017 by

Trading volume on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday rose from the abysmally low level on Monday but the value traded increased, resulting from 13 securities changing hands compared to 12 on Monday.
At the close, 3 stocks advanced, 3 declined and 7 held firm as 221,508 shares were exchanged at a value of $4,523,594 compared to Monday’s trading of 63,288 valued at $3,292,849.
The Composite Index gained 0.92 points to 1,208.65, the All T&T Index advanced 1.07 points to 1,791.24 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.11 points to 83.89.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 3 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| Grace Kennedy gained 1 cent to close at $2.80 in exchanging 31,635 shares, NCB Financial Group added 1 cent to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.08 trading 2,800 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL jumped 57 cents to $22.50, with 12,202 shares changing hands.
Losses| Massy Holdings closed at $49.96, with a 1 cent loss trading 1,765 shares, Scotiabank lost 2 cents, trading 268 units and West Indian Tobacco closed at a 52 weeks’ low of $125.79, losing 3 cents with 12,825 shares changing hands at a value of $1,613,257.
Firm Trades| Ansa McAL closed at $66, with an exchange of 467 shares, Clico Investment traded 66,126 shares at $22.39 valued at $1,478,393, First Citizens exchanged 3,683 shares at $31.65, JMMB Group remained at $1.20 with 78,707 shares traded. National Enterprises closed at $10.49 with 937 units switching owners, Republic Financial Holdings held firm at $101.90, trading 6,625 units valued at $675,088 and Sagicor Financial exchanged 3,468 shares at $8.

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JSE Q2 profit jumps 41% one to watch

July 24, 2017 by

A sharp fall of $92 million in Exchange Operations’ revenue for the half year to June, resulted in the segment results falling $110 million to $41 million but a 41 percent rise in Depository Services’ revenues to $156 million and 20 percent in Trustee Services’ income to $137 million resulted in the segments’ profit rising by 83 percent and 17 percent to $82 million and $75 million respectively.
The improved performance in the newer services of the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw second quarter results increasing over the performance of the first quarter with a rise of 41 percent in profit after tax compared to a decline in the first quarter versus the strong 2016 first quarter. The gains in the June quarter reduced the fall in profits for the by percent to $102 million, compared with the corresponding financial period last year of $158 million. The six months performance resulted in earnings per share of 15 cents, the June quarter returned 6 cents per share.
Total Expenses grew 19 percent over the 2016 quarter to $167 million and 13 percent for the six months to $330 million. Major increases were experienced in professional fees which included cost for defending claims against an employee and advertising and marketing.
“It is expected that for the remaining quarters there will be more companies listing their securities on the exchange and a positive movement in fee income due to the expected increase in trustee Services clientele,” the chairman, Ian McNaughton and Managing Director Marlene Street Forrest stated in a release to shareholders accompanying the financials.
The balance sheet shows assets of $1.24 billion, cash funds of $517 million and stockholder’s equity of $891 million.
IC insider.com is forecasting earnings per share of 35 cents for 2017. The stock last traded on the Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $6.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , ,

Lasco Financial setting for profit explosion

July 24, 2017 by

Lasco Financial enjoyed decent gains in profit for Q1

Revenues at Lasco Financial Services jumped 22.4 percent for first quarter over the similar 2016 period to reach $319 million for an increase of $58.5 million, but importantly trading income climbed 31 percent to $303 million.
According to Managing Director, Jacinth Hall-Tracey “this result represents year over year growth of and is being driven by our strategy of expansion which began in the previous financial year”.
Profit before taxation, moved from $69.7 million in 2016 to $81 million, a 16.5 percent increase with profit after tax increasing 15.8 percent to $66.9 million, compared with the corresponding financial period and resulting in earnings per share of 5.4 cents.
Total Expenses grew 24.6 percent over the 2016 quarter to $238 million with Selling and Promotion cost rising by 31 percent. The increase was “largely driven by increases in Selling and Promotion as we continue to push the LASCO Money consumer facing brand name. This brand has resonated well with our customers and has enabled us to fully explain all our services. Previously, most customers were only aware of our Cambio and MoneyGram services. This brand awareness has been paying off in the increased transactions in all our locations as our customers embrace our more friendly community brand,” Hall-Tracey advised shareholders in a release accompanying the financials.
In the previous financial year, Lasco began the implementation of a strategy to expand the Loans Division by adding a Business Loans Unit. This expansion gave rise to several new loan offices as well as an increase in administrative and sales staff. Increased focus on lending, resulted in 70 percent growth in the loan portfolio that should move the portfolio in the region of $340 million. At the end of March loans amounted to $282 million up 43 percent over the $197 million due at the end of March 2016, no figures for loan is disclosed in the quarterly.
The balance sheet shows assets of $1.54 billion, cash funds of $574 million and stockholder’s equity of $1.22 billion.
IC insider.com is forecasting earnings per share of 30 cents for 2018 and should go on to about double in 2019. Lasco Financial last traded on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $3.55.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: , , , , ,

Is Broilers’ inside trade a buy signal?

July 24, 2017 by

Insider trading in the stock of the company they are connected to can be a big indicators of future prospects, but it is not always the case.
In the past big purchasing of Jamaica Broilers Group shares by insiders have signaled improved profits down the road.
Could the latest big trade be such a signal? The latest ones are a bit confusing with bought buying and selling although there is a bias towards buying. The company recently reported that three Directors and three Senior Managers purchased a total of 5,735,448 of the company’s shares and that a Director and a Senior Manager sold a total of 5,214,772 of the shares, during the period July 11 to 14.
The company reported earnings of $1.85 per share for the just concluded 2017 fiscal year and IC Insider.com forecast is for $2.60 for the 2018 fiscal year to April as revenues continues to grow and debt is paid down with increasing profits. The stock which traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday at $18, is one of IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 main market stocks to own.

 

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Insider Trades Tagged With: , , , , ,